In re Mongello

171 B.R. 662, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 1308, 1994 WL 422652
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona
DecidedJuly 18, 1994
DocketBankruptcy No. 93-08309-PHX-CGC
StatusPublished

This text of 171 B.R. 662 (In re Mongello) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Mongello, 171 B.R. 662, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 1308, 1994 WL 422652 (Ark. 1994).

Opinion

ORDER RE: STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

CHARLES G. CASE, II, Bankruptcy Judge.

INTRODUCTION

This case involves a loan from Liberty National Bank (“Liberty”) to Arminex, Inc., a company owned by the Debtor. The note was guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The loan was originally made in 1986 and Arminex, Inc. defaulted in 1987. The loan was guaranteed by the Debtor and secured by the equity in a house owned jointly by him with his mother. After the Debtor defaulted in early 1987, Liberty liquidated certain business collateral. The last credits for collateral liquidation were in July, 1987. The Debtor filed this Chapter 13 bankruptcy in August, 1993.

Along the way, Liberty failed and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) took over the note. In 1991, the SBA was called upon by FDIC to make good on its guarantee, and, following that, took an assignment of the note and the deed of trust. In 1993, the SBA acquired the first lien on the property by advancing an additional $65,-000.00 to protect its security position. The SBA has abandoned any claim to personal liability against the Debtor and is only pursuing its in rem claim against the property.

ISSUES PRESENTED

The issues presented are the following:

1. Whether the statute of limitations applicable to the enforcement of the SBA’s lien rights derives from Arizona law or Federal law.

2. If Federal law is applicable, whether the SBA is entitled to relief from the automatic stay.

3. If Arizona law is applicable, whether the SBA’s claim on its second lien should be disallowed.

DISCUSSION

A. What is the appropriate statute of limitations?

The Debtor argues that since this was a transaction between an Arizona resident and an Arizona bank, Arizona law controls. To this end, the Debtor cites Atlee Credit Corporation v. Quetulio, 22 Ariz.App. 116, 524 P.2d 511 (1974), which held that the six-year contract statute of limitations applied to actions to foreclose on real estate security. This result was later codified in A.R.S. § 33-817. Debtor argues that the lien supporting the guarantee is no longer enforceable because the SBA has filed to enforce it within six years from the original default.

The government argues that federal law applies and that there is no federal statute of [664]*664limitations governing the SBA’s right to foreclose its Ken. For this proposition, SBA rehes on Westnau Land Corp. v. U.S. Small Business Administration, 1 F.3d 112 (2nd Cir.1993) and United States v. Ward, 985 F.2d 500 (10th Cir.1993). Both cases hold that the federal six-year statute of Kmitations relating to money judgments does not impact the government’s right to foreclose on a real property lien. 28 U.S.C. § 2415(a). Each of these cases involves a federal loan guaranty program; Westnau involves an SBA loan similar to this one and Ward involves a Farmers Home Administration loan.

The Debtor distinguishes these cases by arguing that they involve direct loans by the government, rather than guarantees where the government became the holder of the paper by virtue of a subsequent assignment. This assertion is simply incorrect as to West-nau; that case is strikingly similar to this one and involved a loan made by a private institution and insured by the SBA. While the distinction is true as to Ward, it is a distinction without a difference.

The Debtor’s fundamental argument is that since this was originally a transaction between Arizona entities, it should be covered by Arizona law. This is unavailing. The SBA’s footprints are everywhere to be found in the documents. Indeed, the deed of trust that is the subject of this dispute specifically states, “this instrument is to be construed and enforced in accordance with applicable federal law.”

As a fallback position, the Debtor argues that United States v. Kimbell Foods, Inc., 440 U.S. 715, 99 S.Ct. 1448, 59 L.Ed.2d 711 (1979) stands for the proposition that federal law really means state law in circumstances such as these. In Kimbell, the United States Supreme Court considered what the appropriate priorities should be as between loans made pursuant to federal programs and private loans. The issue had to do with whether or not the government, when acting as a commercial lender, is entitled to special rules of priority, much Kke it is entitled to when tax Kens are involved.

The Supreme Court held in Kimbell that when government-wide loan programs are involved, federal law, not state law, should control the priority scheme and other issues relevant to the interpretation of the government’s rights. In the case of priorities (where there is no federal statutory scheme), the Supreme Court decided that applicable federal law would be the same as the appKca-ble state law. In this case, however, as in Westnau, there is no federal statutory void. See 28 U.S.C. § 2415(a). The Westnau court-noted that Kimbell dealt with a situation where the area involved was unregulated. Here, there is a six-year federal statute relating to money judgments which Courts of Appeals have interpreted not to extend to the equitable in rem procedure of foreclosure.

Notwithstanding this authority, the Debtor argues that Section 2415(a) is not determinative because it does not address a limitation period for foreclosure actions. The Debtor’s argument still faüs. In determining when it is appropriate to rely upon state law as the basis for federal law, the Supreme Court in Kimbell looked to the following factors:

1. Uniformity.

“Undoubtedly, federal programs that ‘by their nature are and must be uniform in character through the Nation’ necessitate formulation of controlling federal rules, [citations omitted]. Conversely, when there is Kttle need for a nationaKy uniform body of law, state law may be incorporated as the federal rule of decision.” 440 U.S. at 728, 99 S.Ct. at 1458.

2. Frustration of Purpose of the Federal Programs.

“Apart from considerations of uniformity, we must also determine whether the appKcation of state law would frustrate specific objectives of federal programs. If so, we must fashion special rules soKc-itous of those federal interests.” Id.

3. Disruption of Commercial Relationships.

“Finally, our choice of law inquiry must consider the extent to which the appKcation of a federal rule would disrupt commercial relationships predicated on state law.” Id. at 728-29, 99 S.Ct. at 1458-59.

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Related

United States v. Kimbell Foods, Inc.
440 U.S. 715 (Supreme Court, 1979)
United States v. John Ward and Lowann J. Ward
985 F.2d 500 (Tenth Circuit, 1993)
Atlee Credit Corporation v. Quetulio
524 P.2d 511 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1974)

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Bluebook (online)
171 B.R. 662, 1994 Bankr. LEXIS 1308, 1994 WL 422652, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mongello-arb-1994.